Read Online To Love a Way of Life by Natalie Hart - Free Book Online

‘please’ out of his mouth. Emma couldn’t help but think his stubbornness was far too cute.
    “Let’s go!” She said. The toddler jumped up on down on the spot as his grip on Emma kept firm.
    They walked into the art supply store. They had a few kid’s play sets but they mostly dealt in supplies for artists who needed the best. Emma realised her mother buying crayons for Anthony was really a ploy.
    “I’ll find the crayons and you pick out some paints and brushes for yourself,” she said. Emma knew it was coming.
    “Ok, but you’re not paying for them.”
    “You have to let me get you something. A new job, and a new home in the country?” She said. “I want to buy you something.”
    “You only work part time, Mam. I’ll get them for myself now you have me here.” Emma said.
    “Let your mother treat you, it’s the only joy she has,” Mary said.
    “You spend every Saturday night dancing in the pub, and play poker on Tuesdays. You have plenty of joy without wasting your money on me.”
    “You wouldn’t deny an old wo—“
    “You’re not even fifty five, Mam! Cut out the old woman business.”
    “I’m happy for you, Emma,” she said. “You deserve a nice life. And once you’re happy I’m happy.”
    “Patrick said the same,” she said.
    “And you’d do well to listen to him.”
    They arrived back to Jenna’s house with a sleeping Anthony in his buggy.
    “How long has he been out?” She asked.
    “Just fifteen minutes, we stopped at the picnic tables and he drew in his new colouring book,” Mary said.
    “Ah, Mary,” she said. “You shouldn’t spend your money on him. He has more toys than he knows what to do with.”
    “My own daughter won’t let me spend money on her, so I have to spend my money on someone’s child.”
    The two women gave each other another knowing look. Emma’s mother was fifty three and Jenna was barely in her twenties, they were separated by an entire generation but they shared something special. Emma knew it was something only a mother could have for her child. She looked down at the toddler in the buggy. He had turned from a little handful that kept her on her guard to a placid little angel just by falling asleep. Emma looked at her mother and Jenna, and saw something in their faces that she knew she wanted for herself.
    ***
    E mma waited for Sandra in Grant’s. It was only a couple of weeks since she had met Patrick here, and Stan of course. Him nuzzling his shiny nose into her. The morning spent with her mother’s encouragement her had tired her out and she wanted a change of pace with Sandra. Emma was most of the way through a double gin and tonic when she arrived.
    “You’re all change now I guess!” Sandra said.
    “Mam was her usual enthusiastic self,” Emma said.
    “She’s trying to help you.”
    “She says she wants me to be happy, but she’s pushy with happiness.”
    “But you do need to push yourself for that,” she said. “You were working nonstop at Desmond, etcetera and you didn’t take time.”
    “I don’t want to fail, I want to be good at what I do.”
    “You are good at what you do, but you have to take time for yourself too,” Sandra said.
    “I’m thinking about kids,” Emma said.
    Sandra paused. Emma knew Sandra had almost had a kid herself. Her boyfriend was ready, she thought she was ready but the pregnancy didn’t work out, and then the relationship didn’t work out. Sandra still wasn’t fully over it but Emma needed to say it.
    “You’ve never talked about kids seriously before,” she said.
    “I know, I’ve thought about them but saying it meant something different.”
    “Maybe Desmond, etcetera laying you off changed your perspective?” Sandra said, it was half question, half statement.
    “I think so. I think I want more from life than accounting.”
    “That’s what you’re mother’s been trying to say to you,” Sandra said. “She may not put it fantastically but you’ve never been happy dedicating